DARDANELLE — Oct. 13 is the third annual Logan’s River Walk at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Dardanelle.

The Walk, which is licensed by the National Buddy Walk, a member of the National Down Syndrome Society, was the only one of its kind in 2010 and 2011.

This year, there was a buddy walk in Little Rock in June, and one is scheduled in Clinton, also. Both are off-shoots of the buddy walk started by Teri Kuras, Logan’s mother.

Logan’s River Walk raised $5,600 in 2011, and Kuras said this year’s event has grown even larger.

“We have grown each year,” Kuras said. “And that is the goal. We want to raise awareness about Down syndrome in the area. I’m so excited to know that because of Logan’s walk, there are two other Buddy Walks in Arkansas this year.”

Kuras asked participants to pre-register before Sept. 10. so she can order food and T-shirts. The registration fee is $15 for an individual, and team registration amounts vary. The fee includes a T-shirt and lunch catered by McAllister’s Deli.

New this year is an alternate way to support the walk. On Friday and Saturday, McAllister’s will donate 10 percent of each ticket when a copy of a special flier promoting the Walk is shown. Kuras said the fliers can be downloaded and printed or shown from a phone. To learn more about the special promotion, go to www.logansriverwalk.com or find them on Facebook.

The event begins with a red carpet to showcase this year’s rock star theme and an opening ceremony highlighting each special-needs child in attendance.

“If people would send me short bios of the participants before the Walk, we can highlight each individual child,” Kuras said. “We will also have our very own walk of fame and the kids can make their hand prints.”

What red carpet event would be complete without flashbulbs and a crowd of paparazzi? Not to worry, members of the Delta Zeta sorority at Arkansas Tech University will be on site to make everyone feel they truly are rock stars at a red carpet event.

Kuras said the sorority has helped her each year and that their commitment to not only the walk the event, but to also help children with special needs is admirable.

“Those girls are a lifesaver for me,” Kuras said. “They do so much at the event and three of the girls have actually switched majors to special education. I want them to know how special they are to me personally and to everyone that attends the event.”

The one-mile walk begins at 1 p.m., and Kuras said everyone walks together.

“It’s about community and being buddies,” Kuras said. “We all walk together, united for one cause. We do all the fun stuff first and then we walk.”

The “fun stuff” includes bouncy houses and games for the kids.

For Kuras, Logan’s River Walk is about more than just walking, talking and raising money and awareness about Down syndrome in the River Valley. The Walk is an extension of herself.

This year’s walk comes after an especially difficult summer for Kuras and her family. Kuras learned on Aug. 1 that in addition to Down syndrome, Logan has NEMO, a rare autoimmune disorder.

Because of the autoimmune disorder, Logan’s body constantly attacks itself. He takes special antibiotics each day to boost his immune system.

“It’s been a really rough summer,” Kuras said. “It was agonizing waiting 11 weeks to learn the results from the testing. Since then, I’ve had good days and bad days.”

Kuras said there is one potential treatment for Logan’s life-threatening disorder, a bone marrow transplant. She said even that only has a 30 percent survival rating. Kuras said Logan’s full-blooded, younger brother Ethan would be his best bet for a donor match.

“I asked him one night as I was putting him to bed if Logan needed something from his body to make him better and the procedure might hurt, would he want to do it,” Kuras said through tears. “He was only 7 and he said, ‘Mom, I would die for Logan.’ I just held him after that. I mean, what a great kid and brother. Even though we’re going through a tough time, I am constantly reminded how blessed we are to have such amazing support and prayers.”

Although NEMO is a fatal autoimmune disorder, Kuras said it is too early in the diagnosis process to know anything specific about Logan’s situation. She added Logan’s River Walk will continue to grow and be a part of her life, no matter what the future holds for her son.

For more information visit www.logansriverwalk.com or call (479) 453-0041.